Creamy Cheesy Baked Ziti (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Pasta and Protein
01 -
1 lb of ziti
02 -
1 lb ground beef or swap for Italian sausage if you prefer
→ Veggies and Flavor Base
03 -
A small onion, finely chopped
04 -
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
05 -
A handful (about ¼ cup) of chopped fresh parsley
→ Seasonings and Sauce
06 -
One 28-ounce can of crushed tomatoes
07 -
1 tbsp of Italian herb mix
08 -
1 tsp salt
09 -
½ tsp ground black pepper
→ Cheeses
10 -
2 cups of creamy ricotta
11 -
Shredded mozzarella, 2 cups
12 -
1 cup of grated Parmesan
# Instructions:
01 -
Set your oven to 375°F and grease up your 9x13 baking dish.
02 -
Boil the ziti as instructed on its box until it's just firm. Drain it and set aside.
03 -
Cook the ground meat and onion in a pan until browned. Toss in the garlic and cook for another minute, then pour in tomatoes and season well. Let it simmer for 10 minutes.
04 -
In a big bowl, mix the cooked ziti, meat sauce, and ricotta together.
05 -
Start with half of the pasta mix in the baking dish, then sprinkle half the mozzarella and Parmesan on top. Repeat with the rest.
06 -
Cover with foil and bake it for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake 15 more minutes until the cheese on top looks all bubbly and a bit golden.
07 -
Let the dish cool just a bit, then sprinkle with parsley before serving.
# Notes:
01 -
Feel free to use Italian sausage instead of ground beef.
02 -
Don’t overcook the pasta—it’ll keep cooking later.
03 -
Allow the dish to sit to make serving easier.